Saturday, September 14, 2013

Intro: For those of you reading this blog for the past few years, I am Twinkie's M. I usually let Twinkie do the talking here, but current events dictate that the human takes over. Please share this post or excerpts it on Twitter, FaceBook, your blogs... any place you are willing to, as much and as often as you can. My pack and family are not the only ones dealing with this issue. It is each animal lover's duty to see to it that everyone finds a loving home, so you all see the irony in finding that home and losing it solely based on overgeneralization of ordinances regulating the number of pets.

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I am reaching out to anybody who may be able to help me either directly or by sharing useful information, regarding the 3-dog per household law in the State of California.

I live in La Canada, Flintridge--The Suburbs. Through the years, I have rescued many animals: squirrels, dogs, cats... birds, any living creature that comes my way. I have 3 registered dogs with the Pasadena Humane Society but I also have another 4 that are not--not because I wanted to cheat the city of any money, but because I can only legally own 3. A dog-hating neighbor has been on my case for over a year. He initially tried to prove that my dogs were excessive barkers, but he couldn't, since that is not the case at all. He contacted the Humane Society, bothered the sheriff's station, but he was unable to prove his case. I am very sensitive to being a good neighbor. My family and pets do not cause noise disturbances. I pick up after my dogs. I make sure that they are in their rooms (I split them up in 3 groups, inside the house) between the hours of 9pm and 8am. I also live on 7/8 of an acre, in a 3,500 square foot home, on horse property.

A list of all seven dogs based on size

1. Twinkie: 7-9 year old Chihuahua mix. The ruler of the pack. She's got 3 working legs, has frequent strokes... weighs 4 lbs. She was thrown out of a moving car, according to the rescue organization that passed her on to me to help her cross the rainbow bridge almost six years ago.

2. Frankie: she's about 4 years old. She's a chi mix too. Very timid. Took her a few years to get used to everyone. She was passed out from one person to another during a horse show I was observing. I took her home with me.

3. Pedro: Another Chi mix. He's 3 years old, his second home told me. He was being sold for $50 outside a thrift store. His second home couldn't keep him because he was so unruly. It took two years, but he's a really good boy now, and he "helped me raise the two danes". He is very attached to them.

4. Linguini: She's a dalmatian mix, about 60 lbs. I adopted her from the Pasadena Humane Sociaty 16 gears ago. This has been her only home since. She's got incontinence, major arthritis, is partially deaf, but she's also a really happy girl who enjoys every meal.

5. Rocket: Another mix, part Chow maybe. He came with my partner when we moved in together. He is about 10. He has a reputation of being an aggressive dog. He immediately adjusted to my pack and hasn't caused any problems. He is a happy senior citizen who plays well with all the dogs, and even the cats.

6. Sasha: Great dane. She weights about 130lbs. She was "given" to me when I went to get her littermate, Ziggy. She was and still is quite the handful. She's hyper and unruly. That's why her family wanted to get rid of her.

7. Ziggy: Great dane. 150lbs. I admit, I always wanted a great dane and when I saw his photo on Craig's list, my heart leapt. I was impulsive for sure. A few months after bringing him home, he was diagnosed with Wobbler's. My heart broke, but I got a CareCredit card and with it, I was able to afford the best care for him. A year after his diagnosis, he is healthier than ever. He is able to run and play with the other dogs, his pack.

As a group, this is one weird mix, but it's one that has worked well for everyone for years. All the dogs get to play and run in our huge yard. They have toys, food, water, and most of all they have each other. They are loved and get plenty of attention from their three humans. That's why we've never ran into any trouble before this neighbor. Our property is so large, that we actually have six adjoining ones; yet nobody but one person has ever complained.

I look forward to reading your comments, but please, do not offer to take anybody in yet. Some wonderful people have, but my family and I are not ready for that.